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UK publisher Com.x may not publish a lot, but what they do is worthy of your time. Their next project is a new edition of a classic work. Here’s the official lowdown.

Exactly 8 years after its publication by Com.x in 2004 as a trade paperback, we are proud to announce the DIGITAL publication of The Last American.

Originally a four-issue comic-book mini-series released under the Marvel Epic Comics imprint in 1990, The Last American was written by John Wagner (Judge Dredd, A History of Violence) and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, 2000AD) with art by Mike McMahon (Judge Dredd, ABC Warriors, Slaine). Innovative and groundbreaking on its initial release, its message and tone are still completely relevant in today’s political and social climate.

Eddie Deighton from Com.x comments:

“We are so pleased to finally be bringing this amazing book back to market, albeit in digital format only. Readers may or may not be aware, but as the book was created in the 1990’s it precedes digital technology, so the pages only exist in their original form or as reprographic film separations. We’ve spent the last six months painstakingly scanning the pages from our printed collected edition, retouching them and boosting the colours for today’s mobile devices whilst retaining the wonderful quality of Mick’s line-work and colouring technique.

Unless you were lucky to pick up a (much sought after) copy of our collected edition, or copies of the original 4-issue mini-series, this is the best opportunity you’ll get to own and read a book that was way ahead of its time.”

“…for me this is one of the very best comic-books ever published… Pilgrim has a gallery of nightmares to face beyond

anything mere science-fiction or horror could offer. But he also finds hope, in the story’s last and most affecting sequence,

and that – perhaps – is The Last American’s greatest surprise.”

GARTH ENNIS

“Under the editorial guidance of the late greatly missed Archie Goodwin, with darkly funny scripting by John Wagner and Alan Grant, Mike fashioned some of his finest pages. Here are all the elements that characterise his work. His idiosyncratic vision, his command of storytelling, his sense of humour, his sense of drama and his sheer good craftsmanship.”

DAVE GIBBONS

“…Reprint, please…”

FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL

“…Our pick this week…”

MICHAEL RYAN, COMIC VAULT

“It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s incredible, it’s almost unbelievable. But it retains enough realism that it could happen… Order it today… I don’t care how you get it. Just get it.”

CRAIG JOHNSON, COMICS BULLETIN

The Last American is available on ComiXology, Graphicly and iVerse on 4th April 2012, priced at $4.99 for 128-pages.

An upcoming OGN called Overrun has been getting some well deserved attention lately, and the book is currently looking for a publisher. Overrun is by Andi Ewington, the writer of Com.x’s unique 45, with Matt Woodley and artist Paul Green. Check out the just launched website for heaps of great artwork, and the teaser video and official description are below.

The city is at breaking point. Living space is running out.

Those in power are forced to execute a desperate measure – introduce a poison to wipe out a huge part of the population.

This is no ordinary city, however.

Overrun takes the reader into the heart of their own computer. Citizens are files. There are .xls business people, sexy .jpegs, hip musician .mp4s.

The space which is running out is memory – the poison a computer virus.

Political intrigue and epic action scenes take place inside the brilliantly crafted world as we follow a group of friends, forgotten computer game heroes, as they fight their way through the virus infection which is transforming their fellow citizens into memory sucking zombies.

Woo hoo! West Australian publisher Gestalt is getting the distribution they deserve, thanks to the fine folks at Madman. Details below.

MADMAN TO DISTRIBUTE ‘GESTALT’ GRAPHIC NOVELS

Madman is proud to announce it will be officially distributing for Gestalt – Australia’s leading independent graphic novel publishing house, beginning April, 2012.

Gestalt’s endeavour is to showcase the unique works of Australian graphic novelists and artists to the world, and since its inception in 2005, has released books with input from talent such as Shaun Tan (The Lost Thing, The Arrival), Tom Taylor (Star Wars graphic novels, DC Comics), Justin Randall (30 Days of Night, Silent Hill) and many more.

“Having followed Madman since their inception, I’ve been consistently impressed by their approach to business and the quality of the materials they deal with,” said Wolfgang Bylsma, Gestalt Editor-in-Chief. “I’m delighted that Gestalt has found a distributor in Madman, who share a similar ethos and the attention to detail that is inherent in everything we do. I look forward to a long, mutually beneficial relationship with Madman.”

Titles from the Gestalt launch line-up have also received nominations for the prestigious 2011 Aurealis Awards. Tom Taylor’s The Deep: Here Be Dragons (Vol. 1) has been nominated for two awards, ‘Best Children’s Picture Book’ and ‘Best Illustrated Work’. Also nominated in the ‘Best Illustrated Work’ category are ‘reverse werewolf’ story, Torn and supernatural Western, The Eldritch Kid: Whisky & Hate (Vol. 1).

“It’s fantastic to receive a nomination for The Deep. And with four nominations for Gestalt in all, I’m thrilled to see Australia’s premier speculative fiction literary awards recognize the quality and wonderful storytelling Gestalt has produced,” said Tom Taylor, author of The Deep: Here Be Dragons.“While my Star Wars and DC Comics works are top-sellers in the U.S., nothing would make me happier than seeing The Deep, and Gestalt in general, being embraced by every book, comic and pop culture store in Australia. I believe this partnership with Madman can make this a reality.”

65 mins. We finally get to this topic! The history of minority characters within comics, superheroes who are replaced by minority characters, or changed when adapted to other media. We also throw a few gnarly questions at one another.

Here’s some great digital art. I can’t track down the artists of the first two, but I found them here. Hulk is in his World War Hulk gladiatorial duds by the way, and the new Superman costume I found here.

If you’re heading to the Emerald City Comic Con this week, you can also meet some great creators, go bowling, and get a chance to win some original art (on a bowling pin! Go Plastic Man!). Awesome. Details below.

Hero Initiative the non-profit organization that aids comic creators in medical and financial need is heading to Emerald City Comic Con March 30 through April 1 in Seattle, Wash. at the Washington State Convention Center. We have many special guests, and we are going BOWLING!

That’s right! We’re bowling to raise money for our cause on Friday March 30 at 8pm! There are 24 spots to bowl with a special guest including Jim Valentino, Francis Manpul, Barry Kitson, Tony Parker and more at Garage Billiards at 1130 Broadway in downtown Seattle! (http://www.garagebilliards.com) For $40 you get 2 games with a special guest, shoe rental, a drink ticket and five raffle tickets to win a bowling pin designed by artists such as Joe Linsner or Matt Wagner!

And if you don’t want to bowl, come and have some fun! The custom bowling pins can be won by ANYONE who shows up! Raffle tickets are $5 each, and tickets will be sold all day Friday at booth number #807 and all evening at the event. Winners MUST BE present.

Of course our special guests at the booth will be signing and sketching for us. Check it out!

Friday, March 30 (hours 2-8)

200-300: Keu Cha

300-400: Scott Morse

400-500: Mike Oeming

500-700: Bill Willingham

Saturday, March 31 (hours 10-7)

1230-130: Jim Valentino

130-230: Adi Granov

430-630: Chrissie Zullo

Sunday, April 1 (hours 10-5)

1030-1130: Steve Lieber

1130-1230: Matt Fraction

About The Hero Initiative

The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strictly to helping comic book artists and craftsmen in need. Hero Initiative creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.

Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $500,000 to the comics veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit http://www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.

Gotta love a good acronym for a title! Below is a text-free preview of the Versus mini-series that ties into Marvel’s Avengers vs X-Men series. AVX: VS focuses on superheroes fighting each other, just like the main series does, but without any pretence of a story behind it I guess. It’ll be sure to look good of course, especially with the debut ish drawn by Kubert and Immonen.

Your First Look At AVX: VS #1– An AVENGERS VS. X-MEN Tie-In!

Marvel is proud to present your first look at, AVX VS #1, the explosive, high-octane action packed tie-in to the hotly-anticipated blockbuster event of the year – Avengers VS. X-Men! From acclaimed creative teams, Jason Aaron & Adam Kubert and Kathryn & Stuart Immonen; catch the cover to cover battles – featuring pulse-pounding action as Iron Man faces off against Magneto & Thing takes on Namor! Don’t miss out on all the action in AVX VS #1, available in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!

Which team will reign supreme? Join the conversation on Twitter with #AvX!